"Although there has been some question about whether these shells (masks) were gorgets---that is, artifacts suspended on the breast---enough have been found in that position with burials to confirm such usage as the primary, if not only, function,"---------1996, Jeffrey P. Brain & Philip Phillips, "Shell Gorgets," p. 72.
     "More often than not, these gorgets and (shell) masks are found in contexts suggesting that they were markers of elevated status, but instead functioned as some indicator of horizontal statuses like kin groupings, dance and medicine societies, or other social sodalities,"---------2004, Adam King, "Power and The Sacred," "Hero Hawk And Open Hand," p. 165.
     "Throughout North America masks were worn in ceremonies, usually religious or quasi-religious, but sometimes purely social in character,"---------1912, Frederick Webb Hodge, "Handbook of American Indians North of Mexico," p. 814.
    "Shells were among some of the first materials used by the Indians from earliest times as natural containers, as ornaments, and as stock for the manufacture of beads and smaller decorations"---------1969, Gregory Perino, "Shells and Their Use By The Indians," "Central States Archaeological Journal," Vol. 16, No. 3, p. 129.
   "Late Fort Ancient trade artifacts include shell masks, Citico-style gorgets, catlinite disk pipes and ceramics from the Great lakes region."---------1996, William Sharp, "Fort Ancient Farmers," "Kentucky Archaeology," pp. 180-181.

SHELL MASK GORGETS
NORTH AMERICA
MISSISSIPPIAN CULTURE

   Various names have been used to describe these ghostly images, such as shell facemasks, shell masks, marine shell mask gorgets, shell mask gorgets and gorgets. They were made during the Mississippian period and they relate to a basic human form from which several different styles are represented.

    Shell mask gorgets have been found over a wide area. They are more commonly known in the southeastern United States.  Arkansas and Tennessee seem to have produced more of them. They have been found as far north as Manitoba in Canada and as far west as Montana and South Dakota. They have also been reported from North Dakota, Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois, Iowa, West Virginia, Alabama and Georgia.

    Shell mask gorgets appear late in the Mississippian period. They were still in use well after the arrival of the Spanish. An example from North Dakota was engraved with a design of a horse and another example was reported in a Siouan Kansa ceremonial bundle as late as 1857.

"REFERENCES"

1912, Frederick Webb Hodge, "Handbook of American Indians North of Mexico," p. 814.
1969, Gregory Perino, "Shells and Their Use By The Indians," "Central States Archaeological Journal," Vol. 16, No. 3, p. 129.
1996, Jeffrey P. Brain & Philip Phillips, "Shell Gorgets," pp. 72-82.
1996, William Sharp, "Fort Ancient Farmers," "Kentucky Archaeology," pp. 180-181.
2004, Adam King, "Power and The Sacred," "Hero Hawk And Open Hand," p. 165.
2004, Timothy R. Pauketat, "Ancient Cahokia and the Mississippians," p. 35.

RECENT LISTINGS HOME    ORDERING